Honest or crooked? Find out before you pull the trigger
Play Cops & Crooks online free
Hidden teams with no moderator: investigate, arm yourself and take down the other side's leader — but every card you reveal tells the table who you are.
No sign-up, no download: play bots right now or share a 4-letter code with your friends.
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Players
4-8
Length
15 min
Difficulty
Medium
Mode
Competitive
What is Cops & Crooks?
A precinct of honest and crooked cops — and nobody knows who is who. 4-8 players.
If you have played Good Cop Bad Cop, you already know the idea: Cops & Crooks is inspired by it and adapted to play online, everyone on their own phone, with bots for missing players.
Good Cop Bad Cop is a trademark of its publisher. Apateon is not affiliated with or endorsed by it.
Cops & Crooks on Apateon
How to play Cops & Crooks
- 1You hold three secret integrity cards: mostly Honest makes you a good cop, mostly Crooked a bad one. One player is the Agent, one the Kingpin.
- 2Each turn: peek at someone's card, draw equipment, grab one of the few guns, or shoot whoever you are aiming at.
- 3Leaders survive one bullet. Shoot the other side's leader twice and your whole team wins.
Full Cops & Crooks rules
Your side
- •You hold three secret integrity cards. Mostly Honest: you are a good cop. Mostly Crooked: you are a bad cop.
- •One player holds the Agent (always honest, the good cops' leader). One holds the Kingpin (always crooked, the bad cops' leader).
- •Teams are never announced — work it out from what you see.
Your turn: one action
- •Investigate: secretly look at one hidden card of another player.
- •Equip: turn one of your hidden cards face up, then draw equipment (you can only hold one).
- •Arm: turn one of your hidden cards face up, take a gun (there are only 2-4) and aim it at someone.
- •Shoot: fire at whoever you are aiming at. The gun goes back to the middle.
- •If you hold a gun and did not shoot, you may change your aim at the end of your turn.
Getting shot
- •A shot player turns every card face up.
- •An ordinary cop is out. The Agent or Kingpin is only wounded the first time — the second shot takes them down.
- •A wounded leader draws a piece of gear. If they already hold one, they keep one of the two and discard the other.
- •Take down the other side's leader and your whole team wins, fallen teammates included.
Equipment
- •Use it on your turn, before your action. Surveillance shows you all of a player's hidden cards; Truth Serum makes someone reveal one.
- •A Taser takes a gun from someone; a Court Order makes a gun-holder aim elsewhere; a Bulletproof Vest stops the next shot at you on its own.
Tips to win at Cops & Crooks
- •Investigate before you arm yourself: shooting someone on your own side is the costliest mistake in the game.
- •Watch who everyone is aiming at: targets say a lot about each player's side.
- •If you are the Agent or the Kingpin, do not expose yourself early: you survive one shot, but the second loses the game for your whole team.
- •The Bulletproof Vest stops the next shot at you: ideal if you think the other side already knows who you are.
Why Apateon
One code for the whole night
One room, one 4-letter code, every game. Switch games without inviting anyone again.
No account
Type your name and play. No sign-up, no passwords.
Bots fill empty seats
Missing someone? A bot takes the seat so you can start right away.
Phone and web
Some play from the app, others from a browser — all in the same game.
If you like Cops & Crooks, try
FAQ
How do I know my side in Cops & Crooks?
From your three integrity cards: if most are Honest you are a good cop; if most are Crooked, a bad cop.
How do you win at Cops & Crooks?
By taking down the rival leader: the Kingpin if you are honest, the Agent if you are crooked. The whole team wins, fallen teammates included.
How many guns are there?
Between 2 and 4, depending on the table. After a shot, the gun goes back to the centre.
How many people can play Cops & Crooks?
Cops & Crooks plays with 4 to 8 players. If you are short, Apateon fills the empty seats with bots.
How long is a game of Cops & Crooks?
A full game takes about 15 minutes.
Can I play Cops & Crooks online for free?
Yes. Cops & Crooks is free in your browser and in the Apateon app, with no sign-up.
Is Cops & Crooks like Good Cop Bad Cop?
It is inspired by Good Cop Bad Cop: the same idea, adapted to play online for free, everyone on their own phone, with bots for missing players.
Do we all need to be in the same place?
No. Everyone uses their own phone or computer, so you can play around one table or remotely, for example over a video call.